Night Sweats/Headaches/Blurred Vision

[terrified0878]

Hi,

I've been ill for the past 6 months and am unsure what is wrong with me.  I'm going to list my time line which started in October of '07.  October '07: Get ill after trip to Europe.  I am very sick with fever, loss of appetite, dizziness etc.  This lasts approx 10 days.  

Nov'07-Jan'07: I go to the emergency room b/c of throat problems.  I can hardly speak/swallow, they don't know what the problem is.  During this time I experience HEAVY night sweats every single night.  Almost every night for 2 and a half months I woke up drenched in sweat.  Also, I have an odd oral issue.  After I eat, there are raised growths that pop up on the roof of my mouth.  I can feel them with my tounge and they are smallish in size, they feel almost like some sort of fungus.  They are only there immediately after I eat and last an hour or so.   This oral issue lasts about the same length time as the night sweats.

I was worried I had HIV, and I went to a specialist.  I tested negative 6 months after my last sexual exposure and I also tested negative for TB and mono.  

March '07:  Bedridden with flu-like symptoms for approximately 1 week.  A very nasty cough accompanies other various symptoms.

Apr '07: Starting last week, I began to experience severe daily headaches.  From the moment I wake up my head hurts, on the back of the head and on the front.  There are both sharp pains and dulling type pains.  I have been very sensitive to light, and am having trouble w/daily activities.  Also, my vision is blurred when trying to do work on my computer.  My head hurts too badly to do any sort of work.   When I roll my eyes to the right side the pain is great.  

Night sweats have been infrequent but did have them on and off recently.

Basically I am very very worried as I have not been right for the last 6 months.  Something is wrong with my body and I don't know what it is!  What could be the possible diagnosis for me?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[terrified0878]

I also wanted to state that my Dr. prescibed me METHYLPREDNISOLONE.  Also, I forgot to add that I am 26 years old.

[terrified0878]

I wanted to follow up.

I went to my Dr. yesterday.  He took another HIV test, was negative.  Then he sent me to the hospital to have a CT scan, that was negative as well.  Today he has ordered an MRI for me.  

This is what I'm most scared about.  From my reading it seems like all of my symptoms would indicate that I have Lymphoma which spread to my brain.  Is there any way this isn't the case?

I don't mean to come on here and act scared, but I am.  What else could this possibly be?

[terrified0878]

Also I forgot to include that I had a skin rash on my elbow that lasted a few weeks about 6 weeks ago.  This was very abnormal for me.  There were raised red bumps on my left elbow area.

[terrified0878]

Thanks for your comments.

All of these things you mentioned sounded rather serious.  I understand there is no way to fully evaluate me without examination but what is the likelihood that this isn't a very serious problem?

I also forgot to include in my original post that I did have one nosebleed while sleeping a couple months ago.  I never get nosebleeds and I think its probably the first one I've ever had in my life.  (not sure if this is relevant)

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I cannot make a diagnosis without examination.

Regarding the headaches, you should consider a neurology evaluation.  Migraines are a possibility, but a CT scan or MRI can exclude intracerebral causes like a bleed or mass.

Night sweats can be due to infection, rheumatological disease or more serious causes like cancer.  

Blood tests to evaluate the blood count, thyroid, and liver tests can be done.  A chest x-ray as well as tests excluding TB can also be considered.  

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that commonly leads to night sweats.  Obtaining a CT scan can be done to exclude this remote possibility.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com